Scottish Executive

Asthma

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on asthma research in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within the NHS in Scotland.

  The following table provides details of the amount CSO has spent on asthma research in each of the last five years:

  
  1997-98
1998-99 1999-2000
2000-01 2001-02
 Total expenditure
£78,784 £83,135
£62, 329 £47,596
£127,464 

  Details on individual projects are available from the National Research Register, a copy of which is in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17404).

Autism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults are currently diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder and, if the information is unavailable, what steps it is taking to collect such information.

Mr Frank McAveety: The information requested is not available centrally. The proposed learning disability database will include people with autistic spectrum disorders, but will not provide information on all individuals diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder since it is thought that some people, particularly at the higher functioning end of the autistic spectrum, will not want to be included in such a database.

Autism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the findings of Professors Knapp and Jarbrink of the Centre for Economics of Mental Health that the average lifetime costs resulting from autism and associated learning difficulties is estimated to be £2,940,538 per person; what figure it estimates such lifetime costs to be, and what the estimated annual cost is for adults with autistic spectrum disorder.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive is aware of the findings of Professors Knapp and Jarbrink. It has not estimated the lifetime costs of people with autistic spectrum disorders, with or without associated learning disabilities.

Autism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the level of training to service providers for adults with autistic spectrum disorder.

Mr Frank McAveety: The same as you? review of services for people with learning disabilities recognised the need to improve support for people with autistic spectrum disorder and recommended that local agencies should identify the training needs of front-line staff, to improve awareness and understanding of people with an autistic spectrum disorder.

Autism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are applied to ensure the proper accreditation of service providers responsible for adults with autistic spectrum disorder and whether such criteria are uniform across the country.

Mr Frank McAveety: Accreditation is a term that refers to the Autism Quality Audit and Accreditation Programme, run by the National Autistic Society. This supports and accredits services that cater for the needs of people with autistic spectrum disorder. Providers of such services decide if they want to seek accreditation.

Autism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether professionally trained staff working for local authorities who are engaged in determining care packages and services for adults with autistic spectrum disorder receive any specialised training in the disorder.

Mr Frank McAveety: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28757 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search . The National Autistic Society has provided autism awareness training to a number of key local authority staff across Scotland.

Autism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive with reference to the Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report of December 2001, what progress has been made in regard to targeting funding for autistic spectrum disorder services throughout Scotland and, in particular, to local authorities.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Public Health Institute for Scotland’s Autistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report , published on 7 February 2002, recommended that resources for the systematic development of services for those with ASD should await completion of an audit of current service provision, expenditure and training by joint planning groups in each NHS board and local authority.

Civil Servants

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to transfer civil service departments and government agencies to the greater Glasgow area.

Peter Peacock: There are no plans to transfer civil service departments and government agencies to the greater Glasgow area. As set out in the answer given to question S1W-27024 on 26 July 2002, there are, however, several organisations currently undertaking relocation reviews, with decisions expected later this year.

Community Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision there is in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area for dementia sufferers with behavioural problems.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is available from Greater Glasgow Primary Care Trust, who are responsible for ensuring that local services for dementia sufferers are safe, of high quality, and meet the needs of users.

Community Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to monitor and audit local authority community care plans.

Mr Frank McAveety: Community care plans are essentially local documents. They are not formally monitored or audited but, along with other strategic documents, inform progress on policy implementation and development.

Community Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to benchmark standards in community care.

Mr Frank McAveety: There has been a recent change in the way care services in Scotland are regulated. The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 set up the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care. National Care Standards covering a wide range of care services were published by Scottish ministers earlier this year, prior to the establishment of the Care Commission on 1 April 2002. The commission is required to take account of these standards in all decisions it takes under the act on the registration and inspection of care services.

  As part of its corporate plan for 2002-03 the Care Commission is committed to establishing a baseline of the size, number and complexity of each care service provision.

Concessionary Travel

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority concessionary travel schemes coming into force on 30 September 2002 provide the national minimum standard for such schemes only.

Lewis Macdonald: None.

Courts

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26175 by Mr Jim Wallace on 10 June 2002, why the report on the refurbishment of Peebles Sheriff Court has not been published, given that refurbishment is not one of the options subject to consultation by the Scottish Court Service.

Mr Jim Wallace: The feasibility report on the refurbishment of Peebles Sheriff Court, which was prepared by consultants for the Scottish Court Service, will be made available to interested parties together with the consultation document once the consultation process commences. This will ensure that all relevant material is available at the same time.

Courts

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much will need to be spent to make each of Lochmaddy, Tain, Dingwall and Portree sheriff courts compliant with disability discrimination legislation.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not yet available. The Scottish Court Service is currently undertaking a review of all court buildings to determine current compliance with disability discrimination legislation. The full extent of work needed and costings have yet to be determined.

Diabetes

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether sufficient clinical trials have been carried out to ensure the safety of genetically-engineered insulin for people with diabetes.

Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA).

  The MCA has advised that all medicines for human use must achieve the required standards of quality, safety and efficacy before being granted a marketing authorisation. This also applies to genetically engineered products, including human insulin. In addition, once approved, appropriate post-marketing pharmacovigilance is carried out within the MCA so that medicines are monitored to identify any new emerging safety issues.

  Information about clinical trials can be found on the MCA’s website: www.mca.gov.uk.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what means of measuring the distance between a pupil’s home and the school he or she attends it recommends to local authorities.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has not made recommendations to local authorities on this matter. When required to measure the distance between a pupil’s home and school, local authorities are responsible for doing so in a way that is accurate and reasonable.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of variation in means of measurement applied by local authorities when assessing the distance between a pupil’s home and the school he or she attends and, if so, what measures it is taking to standardise these means.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is aware that local authorities use various means to measure accurately and reasonably distances between home and school. There are no current plans to standardise these methods.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of Global Positioning Satellites and associated software to measure the distance between a pupil’s home and the school he or she attends is satisfactory, given that such measurement may take no account of any topographical variations which may increase any distance so measured.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is aware that all methods of measurement may require checks, safeguards and other factors to be taken into account to ensure an accurate and reasonable result.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to The Scotsman  article of 23 August 2002, what investigation it is undertaking into the decline in the pass rate for English and communication examinations in the Higher Still programme and whether any such investigation includes consideration of and comparison with the pass rate for English in the SCE Higher grade exam and syllabus format.

Cathy Jamieson: Following publication of overall pass rates for 2002 showing a 2.2% drop at Higher level compared to the previous year, I asked the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to undertake a more detailed analysis to ensure standards are being maintained across the exams system. This analysis indicated that a decrease in pass rates for English and communication and mathematics at Higher and Advanced Higher levels merited further consideration. The relevant SQA Assessment Panels have been asked to review and report on performance and assessment. The panels’ findings, together with principal assessors’ reports and marking schemes, will be published by the end of this month. The review focuses on key issues arising from this year’s exam and will not include any detailed consideration of and comparison with pass rates for English and communication and mathematics in the SCE Higher grade exam and syllabus format.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the syllabus for standard grade and higher history gives due prominence to Scottish figures and issues and teaches young people about their own nation’s history rather than someone else’s.

Nicol Stephen: Units in the Standard Grade and Higher courses offer many opportunities to study aspects relating to Scottish figures and issues. However, it is important that young people learn about Scotland’s history in a UK, European and international context to understand better Scotland’s role in the world. Therefore, Standard Grade and Higher history courses should comprise a balance between Scottish, UK, European and international examples.

Employment

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Trade and Industry regarding redundancies at TelesensKSCL in Edinburgh and, in particular, whether it will seek to ensure that an investigation is carried out into the actions of the purchasing company and the liquidator.

Iain Gray: The regulation of company liquidations and acquisitions is a reserved matter. My officials have ensured that the Department for Trade and Industry is aware of the case. They have also contacted the former employees regarding payments due to them and assistance in finding alternative employment, as referred to in the answers given to questions S1W-29115 and S1W-29126 on 23 September 2002.

Enterprise

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the management group of Iomairt Aig An Oir/Initiative At The Edge will produce proposals for enabling new areas to enter the initiative.

Lewis Macdonald: The Iomairt Aig An Oir/Initiative At The Edge (IaaO) Management Group will submit proposals to the next IaaO National Steering Group in October 2002 on the way forward for the Iomairt beyond 2003. These will include proposals on criteria for exit and entry to the IaaO designation, for the National Steering Group's consideration.

Enterprise

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale was given to the management group of Iomairt Aig An Oir/Initiative At The Edge to report back on its proposals for enabling new areas to enter the initiative following the most recent meeting of the initiative’s National Steering Group.

Lewis Macdonald: At its June 2002 meeting the Iomairt Aig An Oir/Initiative At The Edge (IaaO) National Steering Group asked the IaaO Management Group to report on these matters at the National Steering Group's next meeting in October 2002.

European Funding

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27399 by Cathy Jamieson on 2 August 2002, whether it will consider fully funding the Scottish European Resource Centre when it has established the reasons for the proposed withdrawal of funding by the European Commission office in London.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive will meet the shortfall in funding for the Scottish European Resource Centre created by the withdrawal of funding from 1 January 2003 by the European Commission’s Representation in London.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in regard to the restoration of the Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry link.

Lewis Macdonald: We are currently considering the technical and financial aspects of the initial expressions of interest received, and will shortly consult key local interests on the draft service specification.

Fisheries

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance will be offered to fishermen who have invested in vessels for deep water fishing but may not have sufficient track record to gain quota allocations that will make their investment economically sustainable.

Ross Finnie: As stated in my response to question S1O-5561 of 19 September 2002, the European Council of Ministers will not formally adopt the regulation agreed on 11 June until they have the opinion of the European Parliament. Arrangements for the management and allocation of quota are still under discussion and will not be finalised until the industry has been consulted.

Forestry

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance forestry has to the economy.

Allan Wilson: Forestry is a significant asset to the economy, particularly in rural areas. Forestry and primary wood processing in Scotland currently provide over 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs, and contributes around £800 million per year to the economy. Timber production from our forests is set to double over the next 10 to 15 years and, in partnership with the Scottish Forest Industries Cluster, we are seeking to promote competitiveness and innovation to take advantage of this opportunity to increase forestry’s contribution to our economy.

Further Education

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is carrying out an investigation into industrial relations in the Central College of Commerce and, if so, what stage this investigation is at.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has no plans to carry out such an investigation.

Further Education

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made regarding the merger negotiations between the Glasgow College of Food and Technology, the Central College of Commerce and the College of Building and Printing.

Iain Gray: I understand that the boards of management of each college have considered the reports on the due diligence process and have formally agreed to proceed with the merger. I also understand that the colleges have put in place the necessary robust arrangements by which the merger process can be taken forward.

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking in order to ensure that the Highlanders' Institute and its members are fully involved in the development of Gaelic policy and, in particular, in the development of Gaelic resources and facilities in the west of Scotland.

Mike Watson: The Highlanders' Institute and its members are entitled to put forward their proposals for Gaelic. Following the report of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Gaelic, we are establishing a new body, Bord Gaidhlig na h-Alba, to plan and co-ordinate activities in support of Gaelic across Scotland.

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make the feasibility study for the establishment of a Gaelic Centre in Glasgow available free of charge to all interested parties and, in particular, the Highlanders' Institute.

Mike Watson: The study is the property of the bodies which commissioned it and paid for it. The commissioning was led by Comunn na Gaidhlig.

Gaelic

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in view of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Gaelic’s report on the urgency of establishing the Gaelic Development Agency, Bord Gaidhlig na h-Alba, it will ensure that the chair and board members of the agency are appointed by the beginning of December 2002 so that the National Plan for Gaelic can begin to be implemented in the new financial year.

  The member has provided the following translation:

  A dh'fhaighneachd dha Riaghaltas na h-Alba, ri linn 's mar a nochd aithisg Buidheann Comhairleachaidh an Riaghaltais air Gàidhlig am feum air fìor chabhag ann a bhith a’ stèidheachadh na buidhne leasachaidh, Bòrd Gàidhlig na h-Alba, am bi an Riaghaltas a’ dèanamh cinnteach gun tèid Cathraiche agus Buill a’ Bhùird a thaghadh ro thoiseach Dùbhlachd 2002 gus an gabh tòiseachadh air Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig a chur an gnìomh anns a’ bhliadhna ionmhais ùir.

Mike Watson: The applications for chair and other members of Bòrd Gàidhlig na h-Alba, the Gaelic Development Agency, are being considered with a view to the appointments being made by the beginning of December 2002.

  The Scottish Executive has provided the following translation:

  Thathar a’ beachdachadh air na tagraidhean airson Cathraiche agus Buill eile Bòrd Gàidhlig na h-Alba, agus sùil ann daoine a shuidheachadh sna dreuchdan mu thoiseach na Dùbhlachd 2002.

Genetically Modified Food

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the definition is of GM-free honey.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there is currently no definition in European law of GM-free for any food. However, the introduction of such a term is currently being considered in Europe and this is supported by the UK including all devolved administrations.

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10397 by Susan Deacon on 30 October 2000, whether Betnesol eye ointment is now available.

Malcolm Chisholm: Celltech Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of this product, has advised that it has been out of stock due to production difficulties but will become available during the 4th quarter of this year i.e. from October to December 2002.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how all Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines are monitored to assess their impact and whether their implementation has been successful.

Malcolm Chisholm: In 2001, a survey of progress by NHSScotland in implementing Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines was carried out by a sub-group of the Clinical Resource and Audit Group (CRAG) and a summary report was published in July 2002. A copy of the report can be found on the CRAG website at: http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/crag/ .

  This survey demonstrated that the implementation of SIGN guidelines is widespread throughout NHSScotland. Targeted dissemination of guidelines routinely occurs in almost all trusts, and most trusts have an explicit strategy for implementing guidelines following dissemination. As recommended in previous studies on methods of implementing evidence-based medicine, a combination of approaches (appropriate to local circumstances) has been used in the service. However, the survey also demonstrated that the implementation of individual guidelines was highly variable. A number of success factors and barriers to implementation were identified, many of which were applicable to a number of trusts.

  Although the implementation of SIGN guidelines will continue to be the responsibility of trusts, the introduction of unified NHS boards and Board Clinical Governance committees provides an opportunity to facilitate successful implementation, and to overcome barriers.

  In addition, assessment visits carried out by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland monitor compliance with condition-specific and clinical governance ("generic") standards. These assessments will ensure that procedures are in place to implement SIGN and other relevant evidence-based guidance.

Historic Buildings

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it attaches to private investment in securing the conservation of the built heritage.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive recognises the value of the investment made by private owners in securing the conservation of the built heritage and, through Historic Scotland, works in partnership with both private and other public funding agencies.

  The historic building repair grants scheme, administered by Historic Scotland, provides financial help for the repair and conservation of building of outstanding architectural or historic interest. Resources from the scheme generally work in harness with other sources of funding. In 2001-02, grants amounting to £7.3 million were awarded and were successful in attracting £6.2 million of private investment and £21.7 million from other public funding sources.

Historic Buildings

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how Historic Scotland defines sustainability of the built heritage.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Historic Scotland publication Passed to the Future which I launched on 15 April sets out the Scottish Executive’s policy for the sustainable management of the historic environment. It emphasises the importance of retaining and, where appropriate, re-using existing structures and traditional materials. Copies of the publication are available through the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 22227) or the Scottish Executive and Historic Scotland websites.

Historic Buildings

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the policies of Historic Scotland towards the private or commercial use of historic buildings contribute to the sustainability of those buildings.

Dr Elaine Murray: Scottish Executive policy on historic buildings is set out in the Memorandum of Guidance on Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas . Our policy recognises the importance of finding new uses for redundant buildings and also encourages private owners to undertake basic maintenance of their historic properties. Historic Scotland implements Executive policy by means of providing guidance, advice and financial assistance to the owners of historic buildings.

Historic Scotland

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations Historic Scotland is under to consult the public in the course of arriving at its policies and decisions.

Dr Elaine Murray: Historic Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Executive, is accountable to Scottish ministers. It carries out consultation exercises from time to time on behalf of Scottish ministers to assist us in the formulation of policy. In addition, Historic Scotland consults external interests and members of the public as a matter of good practice on many operational matters.

Historic Scotland

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints it has received about Historic Scotland and its approach to its work.

Dr Elaine Murray: Since 1 April 2001, ministers and the Executive have received five complaints about Historic Scotland’s approach to its work.

Historic Scotland

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers receive advice in relation to recommendations and decisions of Historic Scotland from officials other than those in Historic Scotland.

Dr Elaine Murray: Ministers normally receive advice on built heritage issues from Historic Scotland officials alone although on some issues they may receive advice from the Secretary of the Scottish Executive Education Department. I am currently looking at ways in which Scottish ministers can receive independent advice on built heritage issues from the recently formed Built Environment Forum.

Housing

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of houses were sold under the (a) right to buy and (b) rent to mortgage schemes in each year since the schemes were introduced and how the figures compare with sales in England.

Ms Margaret Curran: The numbers and percentages of local authority, new town and Scottish Homes/Scottish Special Housing Association dwellings sold each year under the statutory right to buy and rent to mortgage schemes in Scotland are shown in the following tables. Comparable data for England can be obtained from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

  Right to Buy Sales 1980-81 to 2001-02

  
 Period
Stock as at 31 March of Previous Year
Sales in Year % 
of Stock Sold During the Year  1980-81
N/A 6,243
N/A  1981-82
1,042,396 11,704
1.12  1982-83
1,030,058 15,189
1.47  1983-84
1,007,564 17,973
1.78  1984-85
1,000,182 16,693
1.67  1985-86
988,337 14,068
1.42  1986-87
977,102 14,602
1.49  1987-88
962,861 22,791
2.37  1988-89
941,851 34,896
3.71  1989-90
909,393 38,820
4.27  1990-91
869,642 28,447
3.27  1991-92
837,876 22,968
2.74  1992-93
805,921 22,053
2.74  1993-94
775,849 20,384
2.63  1994-95
747,606 20,461
2.74  1995-96
715,689 15,485
2.16  1996-97
682,914 14,190
2.08  1997-98
650,935 15,468
2.38  1998-99
624,108 13,190
2.11  1999-2000
598,389 13,809
2.31  2000-01
576,342 13,525
2.35  2001-02
552,815 13,469
2.44 

  Source: Scottish Executive, Housing Statistics Branch.

  Note:

  Includes local authority, new town and Scottish Homes and Scottish Special Housing Association dwellings. The right to buy scheme was introduced in Scotland on a voluntary basis in 1979; some voluntary sales also took place after the introduction of the statutory scheme in 1980 and these are included in the above figures.

  Rent to Mortgage Sales 1993-94 to 2001-02

   
Period Stock as at 31 March 
of previous year Sales in 
year % of Stock sold during 
the year  1993-94
775,849 138
0.018  1994-95
747,606 87
0.012  1995-96
715,689 85
0.012  1996-97
682,914 63
0.009  1997-98
650,935 28
0.004  1998-99
624,108 21
0.003  1999-2000
598,389 34
0.006  2000-01
576,342 16
0.003  2001-02
552,815 19
0.003 

  Source: Scottish Executive, Housing Statistics Branch.

  Note:

  Includes local authority, new town and Scottish Homes dwellings. The rent to mortgage scheme was introduced in Scotland on a voluntary basis in 1989; some voluntary sales may also have taken place after the introduction of the statutory scheme in 1993; if so they will be included in the above figures.

Justice

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the recent case at Dumfries Sheriff Court that resulted in damages for defamation being awarded to a teacher accused of violence towards two pupils.

Nicol Stephen: Defamation actions are a matter for the courts, and an appeal has now been marked by both former pupils. It would be inappropriate for the Executive to comment on a individual case.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of GPs and hospital-based doctors use the yellow card reporting system for adverse reactions in relation to medication for mental health problems.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Yellow Card Scheme underpins drug safety monitoring in the UK. Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions are submitted to the Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), jointly responsible for running the scheme.

  The MCA advise that although it is possible to calculate the number of reports received for drugs indicated for use in mental health problems, it is not readily possible to derive from this information a meaningful estimate of the percentage of doctors submitting such reports. This is because the level of reporting is variable and health care professionals other than doctors may have submitted a proportion of the reports. The scheme invites reports from all doctors, regardless of speciality, dentists, pharmacists and, in some circumstances, nurses. Information about the Yellow Card Scheme can be found on the MCA’s website at: www.mca.gov.uk.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28420 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 September 2002, how much funding has been allocated to mental health research in 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03 to date.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Executive Health Department, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within the NHS in Scotland.

  The following table provides details of the amount CSO has spent both directly on mental health research projects and on other projects supported indirectly in the NHS through the Research and Development (R&D) Support Fund:

  
  2000-01Actual 
Expenditure 2001-02Actual 
Expenditure 2002-03Anticipated 
Expenditure  Direct Research Support
£1,043,853 £913,389
£975,600  R&D 
Support Fund £2,729,260
£2,831,327 Information 
not yet available 

  Details on individual projects are available from the National Research Register a copy of which is in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17404).

NHS Staff

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on post-qualification training (a) for all clinical and medical staff and (b) per nurse by each NHS board in the last year for which figures are available.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education spent £12,057,000 on post-qualification training in 2001-02, the latest year for which figures are available. Information about the amount spent on other clinical staff is not currently held centrally.

  Information on the amount spent on nurse post-qualification training is not held centrally. It is for NHS trusts to determine such expenditure at local level.

New Opportunities Fund

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made in order to secure a separate New Opportunities Fund for Scotland.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Scottish Executive is content with the structure of the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) as a UK distributor. It has ensured that the programme of NOF fully reflect Scottish priorities and that it fully consults and works in partnership with all relevant bodies in Scotland.

New Opportunities Fund

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that national youth organisations can receive an appropriate share of grants from the New Opportunities Fund to develop programmes across Scotland without having to apply in respect of each local authority area.

Dr Elaine Murray: Responsibility for distributing proceeds from the National Lottery rests with the Lottery Distributing Bodies, including the New Opportunities Fund.

  The New Opportunities Fund's New Opportunities for PE and Sport (NOPES) Initiative provides funding for the building or modernisation of indoor and outdoor sports and adventure facilities for school and community use, as well as for out of school hours sporting, cultural and outdoor education activities for children and young people, and for projects that use sport to divert children and young people from crime.

  After extensive consultation with key stakeholders, including the Scottish Executive, a provisional sum of funding was allocated to each local authority area and local authorities were asked to work with a wide range of organisations, including national youth organisations, to compile portfolios of suitable projects which reflected local needs and priorities, as well as relevant local strategies and plans (such as School Development Plans, Sports Developments Plans, Health Improvement Plans).

  The NOPES Initiative closed applications on 20 September 2002. One of the criteria that applications will be judged against is the mechanisms that will be put in place to enable partners in projects, including national youth organisations, to participate on an equal basis.

New Opportunities Fund

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism it has for monitoring effectively the delivery of New Opportunities Fund projects.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Health, Education and Environment Departments of the Scottish Executive are regularly in close contact with the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) to deal with the cross-cutting issues regarding the progress and development of NOF programmes.

  The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) maintains a database of lottery awards in Scotland based on the information provided by the lottery distributing bodies including NOF. Details of all funding packages made by NOF towards projects improving health, education and environment throughout Scotland are published on a regular basis.

Non-Domestic Rates

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state the (a) person responsible for payment of non-domestic rates, (b) total cost to the public body of non-domestic rates paid by it for the project over the project's life to date, (c) cost to the public body of paying non-domestic rates in each of the last three financial years and (d) expected cost to the public body of paying non-domestic rates in 2002-03 for each of the following private finance initiative/public private partnership projects, (1) Stirling Further Education Centre, (2) North Ayrshire College, Kilwinning, (3) Livingston Further Education Centre, (4) Larkfield geriatric assessment facility, (5) Cumnock Community Hospital, (6) provision of 90 elderly mental illness care beds for Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board, (7) provision of 60 frail elderly and 30 elderly mental illness care beds for Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board, (8) day surgery and maternity unit for Dumfries and Galloway Acute & Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust, (9) Kincardine Community Hospital, (10) provision of 25 beds for the mentally ill at Spynie Hospital, (11) provision of 120 elderly care beds at Ruchill Hospital, (12) provision of 120 elderly care beds at Shettleston Hospital, (13) provision of 180 elderly care beds at Rutherglen Hospital, (14) provision of 120 elderly care bed at Darnley Hospital, (15) Inverness Psychiatric Unit, (16) Wishaw General Hospital, (17) Hairmyres Hospital, (18) provision of 40 elderly care beds in Cumbernauld, (19) provision of 60 elderly with dementia care beds in Cumbernauld, (20) provision of 90 elderly care beds at Bellshill Hospital, (21) clinical waste disposal in Lothian, (22) Ferryfield House, (23) provision of 60 elderly care beds at Ellen's Glen House, (24) New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Phases 1 and 2, (25) clinical waste disposal in northern NHS trusts (Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles), (26) Mearnskirk Hospital geriatric beds, (27) Dundee Ninewells Hospital psychiatric services, (28) clinical waste disposal for Lothian and Forth Valley NHS boards, (29) SGH geriatric medicine and assessment facility for South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust, (30) multi-storey carpark/carparking facilities for Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust, (31) Tippethill Hospital, (32) care of the elderly services for West Lothian NHS Trust, (33) Baldovie waste to energy plant, (34) Falkirk schools, (35) Project 2002 (Glasgow Schools Project), (36) office accommodation for Perth and Kinross Council, (37) Balfron School, (38) Inverness Airport Terminal, (39) M6 design, build, finance, operate, (40) Skye Bridge, (41) HM Prison Kilmarnock, (42) Almond Valley and Seafield sewage scheme, (43) Esk Valley purification scheme, (44) Inverness main drainage and Fort William sewage treatment, (45) Findlay House for Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust, (46) Aberdeenshire schools project, (47) Argyll and Bute waste management project, (48) Mearns Primary and St Ninian's High School, (49) Fife schools, (50) Highland schools project, (51) Edinburgh schools project, (52) West Lothian schools project, (53) Police Force Training Centre, East Kilbride, (54) Levenmouth purification scheme, (55) Moray coast wastewater project, (56) Aberdeen, Stonehaven, Fraserburgh and Peterhead sewage and sludge treatment, (57) Tay wastewater project and Dundee, Carnoustie and Arbroath wastewater treatment, (58) Dalmuir sewage treatment, provision of secondary treatment, (59) Daldowie and Shieldhall sludge treatment centres and (60) Meadowhead (Irvine), Ayr, Stevenston and Inverclyde sewage treatment.

Mr Andy Kerr: Rates are not payable on the M6 DBFO and Skye Bridge. The information requested in respect of the other projects is not held centrally and could only be gathered at disproportionate cost.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27403 by Mr Jim Wallace on 2 August 2002, whether it will give full details of each notice received under paragraph 6.8 of the  Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock , including (a) the effective date of the notices, (b) the risk insured, (c) the extent of the insurance, (d) the insured sum, (e) the premium, (f) any excess requested by the previous insurer for a replacement policy, (g) what proposal the contractor made in the notice to mitigate, manage and control such risks and (h) what details the contractor gave of any financial resources available to meet any claim made against it in respect of such risks.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27403 by Mr Jim Wallace on 2 August 2002, why insurance was not available at a commercial price in the case of each notice received under paragraph 6.8 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock .

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give full details of any policies of insurance provided by it to contractors under paragraph 6.14 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock , including the (a) extent of the insurance, (b) premium paid, (c) excess, (d) insured sum, (e) duration of the insurance contract and (f) estimated probability of an insured event occurring over the duration of the insurance contract.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give full details of any waiver by it of the contractor’s obligation to secure insurance under paragraph 6.10 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock , including the (a) extent of the risk, (b) previously insured sum, (c) excess in previous contract insurance policy and premium paid in such a contract, (d) price offered for replacement of the contract, (e) reasons given as to why the price was not commercial, (f) estimated probability of any event occurring to which the waiver of an obligation to obtain insurance applies and (g) duration of any such waiver.

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the accounting treatment has been in the Scottish Prison Service's annual accounts of any insurance policies provided by the Executive to the contractor under paragraph 6.14 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock .

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28658 on 23 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) why the percentage in paragraph 6.14.2 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock has been omitted from the published version of the contract and (b) whether the percentage is above or below 100%.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  (a) Because it is commercially confidential. However, Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd and SPS provided members of the Justice 1 Committee with access to this information under appropriate arrangements of confidentiality.

  (b) This is commercially confidential.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to paragraph 2.1 of the Annual Report 2001-02 of the Over 21’s Visiting Committee of HM Prison and Young Offenders’ Institute Cornton Vale, what the most recent available data is with regard to prisoners suffering from clinical levels of (a) depression and (b) anxiety.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Cornton Vale results of the Fifth Prison Survey are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 23893).

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many medical staff there have been at HM Prison and Young Offenders’ Institute Cornton Vale in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03 to date broken down by category of staff.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20320 on 18 December 2001. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics are available in regard to the incidence of autistic spectrum disorder within the prison population.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  None.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether those delivering medical services within the Scottish Prison Service are trained in identifying and diagnosing autistic spectrum disorder.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20730 on 20 December 2001. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Public Transport

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging people to use public transport.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is encouraging people to use public transport in a number of ways, including the launch on 18 September of Traveline Scotland, a telephone enquiry service providing timetable and journey planning information, which aims to encourage travellers to make greater use of public transport through providing customised information and comparisons about travel by all modes of public transport, and the enhancement of existing concessionary fares schemes to allow for free local bus travel within existing scheme boundaries for pensioners and disabled people outwith the morning peak from 30 September 2002.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it anticipates the average journey time will be on the west coast main line between Glasgow and London in each year from 2002 to 2006 and how much of the Scottish section of that line will (a) have a speed capacity of 125 mph and (b) be used by trains travelling at speeds of 125 mph.

Lewis Macdonald: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has been leading a detailed review of plans to modernise the West Coast Main Line, in conjunction with Railtrack, Virgin Trains and other users of the route. This work is nearing completion and the SRA has indicated that it will be publishing a long-term strategy for this route by October. It will include full details of the modernisation programme and the benefits this will bring, including faster train services for Scotland.

  The SRA’s strategy will be the subject of extensive consultation and the Scottish Executive is already in contact with the SRA on this matter.

Rivers

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when discussions were last held with Clydeside local authorities concerning the dredging of the River Clyde.

Lewis Macdonald: Dredging of the River Clyde has not been raised by the Clydeside local authorities with the Executive. Clydeport, as harbour authority, has statutory powers to dredge the River Clyde.

Rivers

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisation has the statutory responsibility for dredging the River Clyde and the maintenance of navigable channels on the river.

Lewis Macdonald: Statutory responsibility for the dredging and maintenance of navigational channels on the River Clyde is a matter for Clydeport as harbour authority, under the Clyde Port Authority Confirmation Act 1965.

Rivers

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost was of dredging the River Clyde in each of the last three years and in what way the cost is recoverable from users of the river.

Lewis Macdonald: Clydeport, as harbour authority, may charge users for the services it provides under the Clyde Port Authority Confirmation Act 1965. The Executive has no responsibility for monitoring the costs of dredging the River Clyde.

Road Safety

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what input it had, in relation to its role in road safety promotion, to Her Majesty’s Government’s plans to legislate against the use of mobile phones whilst driving and whether it will publish details of any such input.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including mobile phones and driving.

Roads

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the public consultation on the central Scotland transport corridor studies is progressing.

Lewis Macdonald: The consultants' corridor plan recommendations have been available for public consideration since 13 June 2002.

  Newsletters outlining the consultants' key findings and recommendations have been widely distributed for each corridor.

  Public exhibitions for the A8 and A80 corridors were held during the week beginning 16 September and the M74 corridor exhibition is being held in conjunction with the exhibition for the M74 Completion Scheme during the week beginning 23 September.

  The consultation period is scheduled to end on 30 September and a wide range of comments on the plans has already been received. These, and any further comments, will all be given due consideration.

Roads

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to upgrade the A8000 link between the M9 and the M90 motorways to dual carriageway.

Lewis Macdonald: The A8000 is a local road and is therefore the responsibility of the City of Edinburgh Council, as the relevant roads authority. The council and the Forth Estuary Transport Authority are jointly taking forward plans to construct the M9 Spur Extension/A90 Upgrading Scheme to provide a new link road and reduce congestion on the A8000.

Scottish Executive Consultation

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in relation to making responses to its consultation papers available for public inspection where respondents have not indicated that their response is to be treated as confidential and when such responses are made available in relation to the closing date of a consultation.

Mr Andy Kerr: It is Scottish Executive policy to make all responses to consultations (unless confidentiality has been requested) available to the public by placing them in the Scottish Executive Library, or on request. Responses are made publicly available as soon as is practicable after they have been received, taking into account the need to balance transparency and openness with responsibility as a publisher of third party material.

Scottish Executive Finance

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its capital budget was in each of the last three financial years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive’s capital budget for the financial years 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03 was as listed:

  
 2000-01
£1,364 million  2001-02
£1,597 million  2002-03
£1,663 million 

  These figures include direct and indirect capital budget.

Scottish Executive Websites

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-28078 by Mr Andy Kerr on 28 August 2002, what the (a) salary and (b) other costs are of the website team.

Mr Andy Kerr: News website team comprises:

  One Editor (£39,140 - £54,656) and two Assistant Editors (£18,926 - £25,011).

  The news website has an operating budget for 2002-03 of £140,000.

  A revamped news website, Executive News Online, was launched on 2 September 2001.

  Since then an increase of 63 per cent in page impressions has been recorded.

  Site usage and activity is running at approximately 2 million page impressions a month.

  This compares with:

  UK Online at 4.6 million;

  Department of Health at 2.5 million, and

  DTI at 1.3 million.

Scottish Executive Websites

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28078 by Mr Andy Kerr on 28 August 2002, what the duties are of the website team.

Mr Andy Kerr: The duties of the news website team are:

  To create and maintain a regularly-updated news and information website that reflects the Executive’s commitment to open and accessible government.

  A revamped news website, Executive News Online, was launched on 2 September 2001.

  Since then an increase of 63 per cent in page impressions has been recorded.

  Site usage and activity is running at approximately 2 million page impressions a month.

  This compares with:

  UK Online at 4.6 million;

  Department of Health at 2.5 million, and

  DTI at 1.3 million.

Scottish Higher Education Funding Council

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council applies in the awarding of strategic change grants.

Iain Gray: This is a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC).

  Information on the strategic change grant can be found on the SHEFC website at: ww.shefc.ac.uk/content/shefc/strategy/scg.html#higher.

  In February 2002, SHEFC produced a circular (HE/10/02) providing details of the allocation of the strategic change grant for 2001-02 and guidance for future proposals. This information is also available on the SHEFC website at: www.shefc.ac.uk/content/library/circs/02/he1002/he1002.htm.

Scottish Water

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, since the inception of Scottish Water, how many (a) contractors it has appointed, (b) tenders for work it has received, (c) contracts it has awarded and at what value and (d) contracts have commenced.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Scottish Water. The Chief Executive’s response is as follows:

  Scottish Water contracts a wide variety of services from construction to IT support to estate management. It is estimated that in relation to Scottish Water’s capital programmes (a) 50 contractors have been appointed for 91 contracts and 12 partnerships have been awarded 34 packages of work, (b) between five and eight tenders are received each month, (c) 125 contracts have been awarded at a value of £42 million, with an additional £261 million previously committed by the three water authorities and (d) 125 contracts have commenced.

Sex Education

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how childhood sexual abuse is recognised during the (a) teaching and (b) development of sex education programmes.

Cathy Jamieson: Recent guidance on sex education, contained in Circular 2/2001, Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act: Conduct of Sex Education in Scottish Schools offers a set of principles and aims for sex education which provides a framework within which issues of childhood sexual abuse could be raised. Sex education programmes should provide opportunities for children and young people to develop personal and interpersonal skills that will enable them to make and maintain appropriate relationships within the family, with friends and within the wider community. Programmes should also foster self-awareness and self-esteem and a sense of responsibility and respect for themselves and for others.

  Child Protection Circular 10/95 also provides teachers and staff with guidance. A review of this circular has just commenced and an updated circular is planned by spring 2003.

Sexual Health

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its expert group to draw up a sexual health strategy will be examining links between teenage pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and sexual coercion.

Malcolm Chisholm: The remit of the expert group is:

  To draw up a National Sexual Health Strategy for Scotland, with particular reference to measures:

  to reduce unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections;

  to enhance the provision of sexual health services, and

  to promote a broad understanding of sexual health and sexual relationships that encompasses emotions, attitudes and social context.

  This broad remit encompasses issues relating to sexual coercion.

Sexual Health

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training those working in genito-urinary medicine and family planning clinics receive regarding links between sexual coercion and teenage pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: There are not any courses specifically designed for those working in genito-urinary medicine and family planning clinics linking between sexual coercion and teenage pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. All doctors are required to undertake examinations whose standard are set by the medical royal colleges. All doctors are therefore required to have an overall level of understanding of all diseases.

Smoking

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on passive smoking public information campaigns by the Health Education Board for Scotland in each of the last five years.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: A substantial proportion of the Health Education Board for Scotland's (HEBS) budget is devoted to anti-smoking measures. However, while activity in relation to passive smoking is an integral component of the HEBS anti-smoking strategy, it is not possible to separately identify the costs of that work.

Social Inclusion

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which, and what percentage, of its publications produced by the Social Inclusion Division from May 1999 to June 2002 refer people to the Citizens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance and whether Citizens Advice Scotland is made aware of such referrals prior to publication.

Ms Margaret Curran: No publications by the Scottish Executive’s Social Inclusion Division have referred people to the Citizens Advice Bureau service for advice and assistance.

Special Educational Needs

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it plans to introduce to support young people with special educational needs.

Cathy Jamieson: A review has been undertaken of the assessment and recording process for pupils with special educational needs and, after consultation, proposals for change were published in Assessing our children’s educational needs: The Way Forward? . Copies are available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 19469). These proposals are now being developed further, with input from service users and providers and the Executive expects to publish a draft bill early next year. We aim to modernise the framework for supporting pupils with additional needs, strengthen parents’ involvement in decisions affecting their child’s education and safeguard the rights of pupils with the most complex needs.

  We plan to replace the Records of Needs with a more flexible co-ordinated support plan for the most vulnerable pupils. The new plan will focus more on support to help the pupil achieve long term learning outcomes rather than the current emphasis in the Record of Needs on assessment and on the failings of the child or young person. It will build on the individual planning mechanisms for pupils, such as the Individualised Educational Programmes, and will improve the co-ordination of the range of services that these pupils with complex needs require. The Co-ordinated Support Plan will have legal status and will be reviewed regularly, whenever required. Parents will be able to appeal its contents, including provision, to a new independent Additional Support Needs Tribunal. Parents will also be able to appeal to the tribunal education authorities’ decisions about opening, reviewing and closing Co-ordinated Support Plans.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that, where action is taken by local authorities in respect of allegations against teachers of violence against pupils, no action for defamation may be brought by the teacher except against the authority.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is aware of the need for pupils to be able to raise matters of concern. This must be balanced with the need to protect individual teachers against malicious allegations. This balance would not be served if local authorities were inhibited from investigating or acting on allegations due to the fear of being sued for defamation.

  The concept of qualified privilege operates when there is a duty on a person to speak openly. Qualified privilege means that a defamation action can only be successful if a court finds that the allegation was false and was made with malicious intent. We consider that this generally provides sufficient protection for pupils making allegations in good faith.

Voluntary Sector

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to make application forms and systems simpler for youth and other voluntary organisations seeking funding from lottery, and national or local sources.

Ms Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to questions S1W-26734 on June 2002 and S1W-25969 on 6 June 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search

  As part of these developments, the Executive is piloting a single core application form for voluntary organisations applying for funding from the Executive this year and aims to roll out their introduction across the Executive in the next financial year.

  A consultation paper on lottery distribution policy, Review of Lottery Funding was published jointly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly on 29 July for consultation until 30 October 2002. Section 3 of the consultation paper sets out issues involved in applications, single application forms, electronic application forms and one-stop shops. The Scottish Executive is playing a full part in the review of lottery funding which aims to look at how the lottery can be developed and enhanced for the future and build on the success achieved so far.

Voluntary Sector

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that its departments which receive regular reports from voluntary organisations in order to account for their use of grants send feedback to such organisations.

Ms Margaret Curran: In line with Scottish Compact good practice, Scottish Executive Departments should agree a review of performance during the second year of three-year core funding to ascertain if grant should be renewed and to provide feedback to funded organisations. In addition, departments should provide feedback on failed grant applications and should work with the voluntary sector on issues of concern to either party in the spirit of openness and partnership, including any issues regarding the utilisation of Scottish Executive grants.

Voluntary Sector

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make it easier for voluntary youth organisations to recruit, train and retain adult voluntary workers by providing more funding and reducing paperwork.

Ms Margaret Curran: We already provide generous resources for volunteering activity in Scotland. This year we are spending more than £2 million on the Active Communities Initiative, a further £1 million on the funding of the volunteer centre network and £700,000 on the Millennium Volunteers programme.

  We have also provided core funding of more than £260,000 this year to Volunteer Development Scotland, the centre for excellence on volunteering. This organisation provides voluntary organisations and volunteer placement agencies with advice and support on the best way to recruit, train and retain volunteers. This advice reflects the need to strike a balance between ensuring that proper checks are made on individual volunteers and the procedures needed to properly undertake this process.

Voluntary Sector

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether non-formal and informal youth work are an integral part of the education process and whether it will make supporting such work a statutory duty for local authorities.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29301 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search

  Local authorities already have a duty to provide for informal further education in the areas of social, cultural and recreational activities. Informal youth work is covered by this existing duty.

Voluntary Sector

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reduce pressure on the school curriculum by allowing and funding the non-formal and informal youth sector to contribute more to social, moral and civic education, sport, the arts and character-building activities.

Cathy Jamieson: Within the school curriculum there is the opportunity for education authorities and schools to adopt flexible approaches to delivering education within the framework provided by national priorities and curricular guidance. In August 2001 the Scottish Executive Education Department issued a circular which sets out the flexibility available within current curriculum guidelines and arrangements for national qualifications.

  I fully recognise the important role of youth work in the social, personal and educational development of young people and was pleased to note that many voluntary sector organisations took part in the National Debate on Education.

  We will continue to support the positive development of Scotland’s young people through both formal and informal means and would encourage the statutory and voluntary sectors to work together.

Water Safety

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review procedures for informing the public of water supply contamination.

Ross Finnie: The Ad Hoc Group of ministers on Health and Public Water supply recommended that the Scottish Executive, in conjunction with Scottish Water and NHS boards, should urgently complete the current review of Water Hazard Incident Plans.

  The revised plan must ensure that communication between Scottish Water and the NHS boards, with the Executive and most crucially with the public, is consistent and effective and operates within clearly defined criteria, where operational failures occur.

  The aim is to complete the review and produce an all-Scotland plan by December 2002.

Young People

Kate Maclean (Dundee West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is offering to vulnerable young people and those from deprived backgrounds and their families in the early years of education.

Cathy Jamieson: Over the past four years, in partnership with the UK government, we have taken action to raise the incomes of families, especially for those on the lowest incomes. We have set the long-term objective of ending child poverty within a generation in partnership with the UK government. Since then, we have made significant progress towards that aim, improving the lives, prospects, and opportunities of children and young people. We are committed to ensuring that all children get the best possible start in life. Early intervention like the Sure Start Scotland programme will enable them to make the most of subsequent opportunities including pre-school education. Under the Spending Review we are providing an extra £31 million for Sure Start Scotland by 2006, bringing the total spend to £50 million that year.

  We are also taking steps to reduce child income poverty by giving parents real opportunities to increase their incomes: by getting more parents into work through support for New Deal programmes, by providing affordable child care for parents, and through supporting education and training programmes. This is underpinned by the work of the UK Government, modernising the tax and benefit system and making work pay.

  Help with child care costs is also available through the Childcare Tax Credit element of Working Families Tax Credit. Take-up in Scotland is currently around £30 million.

  Pre-school education resources amounting to £137 million were re-integrated into the local government settlement from financial year 2002-03. This is to assist local authorities meet their new duties under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act (2000), to secure a free part-time pre-school education place for all three- and four-year-olds whose parents wish one.

  The Scottish Executive's Childcare Strategy aims to provide affordable accessible, quality child care to help parents into work and training. The Executive is providing local authorities with Childcare Strategy funding of £16.75 million this year which will increase by £23.9 million in the period up to 2006.

  Funding amounting to £25.3 million is also available under the New Opportunities Fund Out of School Hours Childcare Initiative 1999-2003, designed to create new out of school care for children aged 3 to 14.

  The NOF Childcare Initiative 2003-2006 amounting to £14.5 million, which was launched on 16 September, will have a particular focus on disadvantaged communities and vulnerable families.

Youth Crime

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is targeting investment to tackle youth crime.

Cathy Jamieson: £25.5 million was allocated to local authorities between 2000 and 2003-04 for community-based programmes to help young people stop offending. On 18 September, I announced that the Executive would continue to invest resources to support the 10-Point Action Plan. £8 million, £24 million and £33 million will be provided over the next three years. An additional EYF allocation of £15 million is also being made available this year.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, following the letter issued to me by the Auditor General of 5 September 2002, whether documents that relate to the contract with Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Limited (FCAM), previously withheld from publication, will now be published in full including (a) the recommendation by Bovis Lend Lease that FCAM be engaged for the works package for the MSP block in the new Parliament building at Holyrood, (b) all documents relating to the financial appraisal of FCAM, (c) the pre-tender questionnaire completed by FCAM, (d) the first and second letters of intent and (e) the references that were obtained in respect of FCAM and Flour City International Inc.

Sir David Steel: The Parliament has received legal advice that the documents requested should not be made public, while the SPCB's rights and entitlements are still being evaluated, as they may form part of the productions in any litigation which may follow.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer how much in total has now been incurred in respect of legal costs and expenses in connection with Flour City Architectural (Metals) UK, including costs involved in examining and preparing the case for action under the Parent Company Guarantee, giving details of the invoices issued and the dates when they were paid and those which remain outstanding; what the estimated amount of legal costs and expenses is which have not yet been invoiced, and whether Shepherd and Wedderburn or any other legal firm has been providing advice on this matter.

Sir David Steel: Shepherd and Wedderburn has provided and continues to provide legal advice on contractual and other issues in connection with Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) and Flour City International. This includes instructing an agent to make inquiries in the USA. The corporate body is expecting a further report from Shepherd and Wedderburn and the agent, after which I shall write further to the member. No other firm has been providing advice to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on this matter.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what the prospect is of the recovery of losses from Flour City International Inc. and whether any further expenditure on legal expenses to attempt such recovery would be financially worthwhile, detailing the reasons for the position on this matter.

Sir David Steel: The legal directorate has instructed Shepherd and Wedderburn to examine the issues and report on the prospects of recovery against Flour City International. A report is expected to be considered by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) within the next two months. The SPCB considers that it has a duty, in the public interest, to examine carefully the prospects of recovery, and to obtain expert opinion, before reaching a final decision on legal action.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether a performance bond was required for each of the works packages let as part of the Holyrood Project; whether such a bond was provided, and whether any claim under any such bond has been made or is under consideration.

Sir David Steel: There are a number of mechanisms adopted within the workings of all trade packages, which ensure that the client’s interests are suitably protected. The purpose of a performance bond is to provide a limited indemnity for the client from a surety in extreme cases of non-performance. Performance bonds provide, in the event of non-performance, for a recovery of 10% of the contract sum in return for a premium of 1%. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body sought performance bonds for 33 works packages, on the recommendation of the construction manager. Seventeen bonds were obtained, and of the 16 outstanding, at least eight are no longer required since the perceived risk has passed. No claims have yet been made and none are presently under consideration. Performance bonds are not provided readily by contractors and are usually the subject of prolonged negotiation of terms with a third party surety. To delay a contract due to lack of agreement on the wording of a bond could expose the client to a far greater risk in terms of cost and time than the risk that the bond is trying to protect.

Parliamentary Visits

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer,  further to his answer to question S1W-28270 on 4 September 2002, on how many days during each year for which figures were given the total number of visitors to the public gallery in the chamber exceeded 234.

Sir David Steel: The information requested broken down by year is:

   
Year Number of days where visitor numbers 
exceeded 234  05/99-04/00
511  05/00-04/01
47  05/01-04/02
54  05/02-07/02
11 

  Notes:

  1. From 1 September; records were not kept before that date.

  2. The figures show the number of visitors who accessed the public gallery of the chamber but, because access and egress of visitors is a continuous process, it is not possible to identify total numbers in the gallery at any one time.